In my practice I see people who have been abused as children, sexually, emotionally or physically. They engage with me because they want to be healed and want to truly experience life at their own unique great potential.

There is so much writing that tells people they should not be a "victim" but a survivor. I am currently reading a book about healing from childhood sexual abuse and the word survivor keeps popping up over and over again. In the writing it feels like being a survivor is the final step, the goal to aim towards.For some reason this word makes me feel uncomfortable because it seems like we are transferring one label "victim" to another "survivor" and it takes away the humanity, the human potential for growth and healing. We can't change what has happened in the past, but by being a victim or being a survivor feels like there is a part still living in past, attached and unable to move forward.Healing from sexual abuse is a journey, I see it as moving from being a victim, to being a survivor towards healing and growth, where the abuse no longer defines you.I was seeing one of my clients, Richard, for a few months, he came to me because he was experiencing emotional and physical pain associated with sexual abuse he experienced as a child. During our time together he went on a inspirational journey towards healing, letting go and forgiveness. Sometimes it was difficult, emotional and challenging for him, but slowly he started to reconnect with himself, to become embodied with himself where he found acceptance, self-love and forgiveness.After we finished working together Richard wanted to share his own personal healing and inspirational journey with others. To show others it is possible to change, heal and transform the pain to reconnect with yourself, and to find peace and balance in your life.We can't change what has happened to us in the past, but we can stop being attached to labels, to pain, and memories.As Richard said "I am no longer a victim of abuse, nor am I a survivor, I'm not even my job title or my name, I just am, and I am happy to be".You can read Richard's full journey here: A clients journey - healing sexual abuse.Linda Connors